714 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



"■ sport," and that new characters may be perpecuated are thus created, so in 

 insects th^re are comparatively sudden changes, which, under favoring conditions, 

 are perpetuated. In this way characters which most systematists would consider 

 are specific, originate within periods that are very brief compared to those which 

 evolutionists believe to be necessary for the differentiation of specific forms among 

 the higher animals. — American Naturalist. 



BOOK NOTICES. 



Suicide. By James J. O'Dea, M. D. ; i2mo. pp. 322. G. P. Putnam's Sons,. 

 New York, 1882. For sale by M. H. Dickinson, $1.75. 



In this work the subject of suicide is treated partly from a social and partly 

 from a medical standpoint and is divided, generally, into studies of its philosophy, 

 its causes and its prevention. Doctor O'Dea, from his professional position, 

 both in Canada and the United States, is eminently fitted to discuss such a sub- 

 ject intelligently, having been one of the Board of Medical Examiners of Ontario 

 and member of the Medico-Legal and Neurological Societies of New York, etc. 



The causes of suicide are divided, generally, into the external or social and 

 the internal or personal ; the first again into general and special causes. The 

 general causes exist everywhere and under all circumstances, having their source 

 in extravagant religious and moral beliefs. These are illustrated by six chapters 

 on ReHgion, Morals and Laws of Antiquity regarding suicide; such as the Doc- 

 trine of Continuity, the teachings of Brahmanism, Buddhism, of the Stoics, Epi- 

 cureans and other schools of Pagan Philosophy ; Suicide in Pagan Greece and 

 Rome and among the Jewish people ; six chapters on Religion, Morals and Laws 

 of Modern Society, including suicide in the early Christian church, in the middle 

 ages, in modern times ; suicide and Roman common and modern law. 



Then follows the special and personal order of causes, the first embraced in 

 eight chapters on Age and Sex; Hereditary Influence — Insanity, Imitation; Ed- 

 ucation — Literature ; Domestic Troubles, Love Troubles ; Intoxicants, Financial 

 Losses and Embarassments ; Race, Nationality ; Atmospheric and Climatic In- 

 fluences. 



Among personal causes, he classes bodily causes, mental causes, tempera- 

 ment, and considers the relations of insanity to suicide. 



Under the head of Prevention are chapters on prevention by law, by relig- 

 ious and moral training, and by medical advice and treatment. We have thus 

 given the skeleton of the work, and can assure the reader that this skeleton is 

 well built upon and handsomely clothed. While the subject may seem better 

 adapted to the professional than the general reader, its treatment will be found 

 adapted to all intelligent persons who have a taste for historical and philosophical 

 studies. 



